Electrically-actuated cartridge



Dec. 3, 1968 V. B. KALEY ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED CARTRIDGE Filed Sept. 14;1966 I INVENTOR I W050? if @4150 BY &

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,413,888 ELECTRICALLY-ACTUATED CARTRIDGEVictor B. Kaley, 2023 Oliver St.,

West Hyattsville, Md. 20782 Filed Sept. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 579,431 9Claims. (CI. 8928) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cartridge havingmetallic casing and a bullet at -one end insulated from the casing. Apriming composition is secured on the end of the bullet inserted in thecasing. A conductor of electricity is secured at one end between theinsulation of the *bullet and the metal casing and extends to adjacentthe priming composition, which is secured to the bullet, to ignite thesame.

The present invention relates to cartridges which are detonated orignited electrically.

While the prior art is aware of means for electrically ignitingcartridges for firing projectiles, the same have drawbacks in thatgenerally a wire has to be inserted lengthwise and interiorly of thecartridge. It is obvious that this is both a laborious andtime-consuming operation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a simplifiedarrangement for igniting the propellant contained within the cartridge.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for electricallyigniting the propellant without the use of an ignition wire within thecartridge.

Another object is to provide for a cartridge case which, because of itsconstruction, will permit a higher safe maximum pressure and willconsequently impart higher velocity and energy to the projectile.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of theembodiments as shown in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectioned view of the cartridge andbullet within the gun chamber and depicting its relationship with theelectrical firing means;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1 andillustrating the relationship of the priming compound and ground wirewith respect to insulation provided on the projectile;

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are other embodiments of the invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 illustrating another modificationof the invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals representlike parts, FIGURE 1 illustrates a rifle or pistol barrel 1 having abore 20 with lands 21 therein insulated from the bullet chamber 2 byinsulation 3. The insulation 3 may be of any material which willeffectively electrically insulate the barrel from the chamber. It shouldbe understood that the barrel may be insulated at any point forwardly ofthe chamber and the exact location thereof may be controlled by thelength of the projectile being used. Within the barrel 1 and chamber 2is positioned the cartridge and projectile illustrated generally by thenumeral 4.

The cartridge 5, while being depicted as having a grooved portion 6 nearits base 7, can be of any desired configuration or type, e.g., such ashaving a solid base portion and/or being of the consumable variety. Thecartridge 5 contains the propellant 8 which may be of any desired typeknown to those skilled in the art and is introduced into the cartridgethrough the opening 9 in which the projectile 10 is received.

Patented Dec. 3, 1968 The projectile 10, while disclosed as beingdomeshaped, can be of any desired shape, and is provided at its basewith a primer 11. In the case of a shotgun shell where there is noprojectile such as depicted in the several views of the drawing, theprimer is attached or lies beneath the base part of the overpowder wad.As also seen in FIGURE 2, lead-in wire 12 extends from the primer 11 andterminates between an external portion of the insulating sleeve 13positioned about the projectile and the cartridge opening 9. Theinsulating sleeve 13, like the insulation 3, can be fabricated from anymaterial which satisfactorily electrically insulates the projectile basefrom the chamber 2.

With continuing reference to FIGURE 1, the numeral 25 generallydesignates the electrical means for igniting the propellant 8 which willbe more fully explained hereinafter. The electrical means 25 comprises asuitable electrical source 14, eg a battery, with one side 15 groundedto the barrel 1 and the other side 16 connected to the chamber 2 throughthe switch means 17.

In igniting the propellant, the switch means 17 is closed wherebycurrent from the source 14 passes through the chamber 2, the ground wire12, the primer 11, the bullet 10 which is grounded against the lands 21,through the barrel 1 and back to the source 14. As the primer 11 isignited, the same causes the propellant 8 to be fired to thereby propelthe projectile 10.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 disclose other embodiments for assembling the primer11 and the lead-in wire 12 with respect to the base of the projectile.In FIGURE 3, the lead-in wire takes the form of a cap 12, generally U-shaped in cross section, with the open end thereof snugly engaging theinsulation 13' and the base member engaging the primer 11'.

FIGURE 4 discloses a modification wherein the primer 11a is extendedoutwardly beyond the insulation 13a whereby the primer 11a acts as thelead-in conductor.

FIGURE 5 discloses a further modification wherein the insulation 13btakes the form of a ring crimped within a groove disposed medially ofthe bullet 10 while the primer 11b serves as the current lead-inconductor.

With reference to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6, the insulationsleeve 13 has been crimped into a groove 22 formed generally medially ofthe projectile 10 and cooperates with a crimped end portion 23 of thewall defining the cartridge opening 9. In this manner when thepropellant is ignited the crimped portion 23 is forced outwardly of thegroove to protect the insulation 3 against the erosive effects of theburning propellant.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there is provided a new meansfor electrically igniting propellant for dischanging projectiles, and itis to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown anddescribed are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and thatvarious changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may beresorted to, without departing from the spirit of the. invention orscope of the subjoined claims. For example, it is considered to bewithin the scope of the present disclosure to provide in lieu of theseparate priming means depicted generally at 11 and the conductor 12, aseparate conductor, known and sold in the trade as Power Fuse which whensubjected to an electrical charge will explode and act as a primer.

I claim:

1. A projectile to be used for igniting propellant in a cartridge havinga wall defining an opening, comprising a housing positioned Within saidopening, insulation means encircling a portion of the housing, primingmeans on said housing engaging said propellant, and means conductingelectrical current adjacent the insulation means to the 3 priming meansfor igniting the same whereby the propellant will be ignited to reactagainst the projectile.

2. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the insulating means includes aportion crimped within a groove within the housing.

3. The projectile of claim 2 wherein the insulating means is comprisedof an annular member.

4. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the priming means includes a primercomposition and the electrical conducting means is a conductorpositioned externally of the insulation means and said wall defining theopening in said cartridge.

5. The projectile of claim 4 wherein the conductor is in the form of awire.

6. The projectile of claim 4 wherein the conductor is in the form of acap having a portion engaging the primer and a portion engaging theinsulating means.

7. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the insulating means is comprisedof a sleeve.

8. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the assembly of the cartridge andprojectile are inserted within a firearm having a wall defining achamber portion and bore portion with the cartridge positioned withinthe chamber portion and the projectile extending into the bore portionrespectively including means insulating the chamber portion from thebore portion, a source of electrical potential including a leadconnecting said source to one of said portions, and another leadincluding means selectively connecting the source to the other of saidportions.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the last-mentioned means is aswitch.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,679 5/1873 Mott et al. 102-462,313,030 3/1943 Tauscek 10246 X 2,419,371 4/1947 Schlumberger 10238 X3,228,333 1/1966 Phelps et a1. 10246 3,299,812 1/1967 Suh et al. 102-46X ROBERT F. STAHL, Primary Examiner.

